- Where to tax more to increase revenue?
- When should the increase be made?
- Should GST be increased?
- “Yes” to GST: reasonable hike %?
- How can govt help low-income earners if GST is increased?
- “No” to GST: how else to balance spending and revenue?
Minister Chee Hong Tat just scored an own goal: PAP cannot be trusted
March 10, 2018
1.“The Government had secretly intended to raise GST immediately, but backed down because of public reaction;
2.The WP made this charge in Parliament, and the Government did not rebut it, so it must be true.
3.This Government cannot be trusted, either on taxes or any other policies; and
4.Vote against the PAP to teach them a lesson, and stop them from raising the GST after the elections.”
In his zest to insult WP MP Sylvia Lim, Minister Chee Hong Tat unwittingly scored an own goal today (Mar 9) listing out the actual intentions of the ruling party government. The PAP Minister wrote in the party website that the government have to pursue the matter because the opposition MP’s statements are “false and vicious”.
However, a check with Parliamentary records, Sylvia Lim made no attack on the government’s integrity as alleged by Minister Chee Hong Tat. WP MP Sylvia Lim simply said the government tested ground reactions with state media reports of GST increase prior to the announcement. Nothing insidious there, but 4 PAP Ministers popped a vein and started labelling her as “dishonest”, “dishonourable” and “vicious”:
“Why was it important for the Government to pursue the matter? Because it needed to remove any doubt that the Government had intended to raise GST immediately, but then backtracked when it was called out that this would contradict previous Government statements. The underlying sting of that allegation was that the Government was being dishonest with the people. This is both false and vicious, and goes to the heart of Government’s integrity. Had the Government not pursued the matter in Parliament, most people would have overlooked Ms Lim’s “test balloon” comment. However, the WP could later use it to great effect for political attacks, including during the next General Election.”
continue reading here :
“PAP ministers were brow beating Sylvia Lim” – Tan Cheng Bock throws weight behind WP MP
March 10, 2018
Veteran politician Dr Tan Cheng Bock has thrown his weight behind Workers’ Party chairman Sylvia Lim after five prominent ruling party politicians took Lim to task over her remarks on the timing of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) hike announcement.
Voicing his support for Lim on Facebook today, Dr Tan asserted that the ruling party ministers were “brow beating” Lim. In a post that has since gone viral, he said:
“BE GRACIOUS IN PARLIAMENT
“Having watched the video on the GST debate, I felt the PAP ministers especially Shanmugam were brow beating MP Sylvia Lim by demanding an apology for asking whether the government postponed the GST hike because of negative public feedback. Many people perceive this brow beating as arrogance. I remember our former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew once told all PAP MPs in 1988 “Any show of arrogance or indifference by any MP or Minister will erode confidence in him and, later, in the government.”
“Instead of getting upset, the Ministers should be thankful Sylvia Lim gave them an opportunity to explain. If the government’s position is ‘no’ then just say no and let’s just stop at that. No need to get defensive. As PM Lee Hsien Loong rightly said at the close of the Oxley Road debate: “If MPs believe that something is wrong, it’s an MP’s job to pursue the facts and make these allegations in their own name, decide whether something seems to be wrong, and if you think something is wrong, even if you’re not fully sure, then come to this House, confront the Government, ask for explanations and answers.” I enclose a video clip of Sylvia Lim quoting PM Lee.
“PM Lee was echoing the view of our former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew who said “All MPs new and old, should speak out. You have to speak up and bring out the grapevine criticism in the coffee shops and hawker centres. It is damaging for the government not to openly refute it with facts and argument. By bringing up apparently embarrassing issues, you help the government openly state the facts and explain the reasons for our policies and so continue to hold the ground.”
“So be gracious, no need to over-react or ask for any apology for bringing out “grapevine criticism” or “apparently embarrassing issues” in Parliament.”
Lim had said earlier that the Government had floated “trial balloons” on a possible tax hike but possibly backed down after the public noted Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s comments in 2015 that the Government has enough revenue for the next decade.
While the Aljunied GRC MP defended her statement as “honest suspicion,” her remarks drew intense flak from Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam who refuted the allegation and asserted that her statement was both “dishonest” and “hypocritical”.
Shanmugam and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat pressed Lim to withdraw her statement. Heng later wrote a letter and pressured Lim to behave as “an honourable MP should” and retract her statement.
continue reading here :
Ministers caught lying: Here are the “test balloons”
March 11, 2018
Straits Times, DBS, TodayOnline and UOB. These are the government-owned companies behind the “test balloons” WP MP Sylvia Lim were talking about.
A search on pre-Budget state media reports revealed that there indeed were “test balloons” floated by the government to test ground reactions to a GST increase. There were not a few “test balloons” but at least 20 articles suggesting GST increase over 3 months before the actual announcement on Budget 2018. In this 3 months, the ruling party government was absolutely silent and did not address any of these reports.
Every single article below suggested that the government should raise the GST (click on each one if you wish):
19 Nov 2017 – Straits Times: “Singapore to raise taxes as govt spending increases”
20 Nov 2017 – Business Times: “GST hike announcement could be on the cards for Singapore Budget 2018: economists, tax specialists”
20 Nov 2017 – TodayOnline: “GST tax hike in S’pore ‘likely’ but not in near term, experts say”
21 Nov 2017 – ChannelNewsAsia: “Singapore set for tax hike: What could it be and when?”
21 Nov 2017 – Business Times: “GST hike looms as Singapore’s funding needs grow”
22 Nov 2017 – Business Times: “Impact of GST hike on prices will depend on size, timing”
26 Nov 2017 – Straits Times: “Taxes introduced over the years and how the public reacted”
28 Nov 2017 – Straits Times: “GST could go up 2 percentage points in Budget 2018: DBS economist”
30 Nov 2017 – Singapore Business Review: “Speculated GST hike could boost e-commerce tax”
1 Dec 2017 – TodayOnline: “Preparing for a GST increase”
9 Dec 2017 – TodayOnline: “GST could be raised to 9% in Budget 2018: DBS report”
24 Jan 2018 – TodayOnline: “How much additional revenue can S’pore get from raising GST and other taxes?”
15 Feb 2018 – TheNewPaper: “What to expect if tax rates are raised at Budget 2018”
There are many more “test balloons” but I believe the above presented a strong case behind MP Sylvia Lim’s suspicions. Her suspicions were not wrong, she should not be made to apologise for them.
The Singapore Ministers are the unrepentant liars and probably the worst kind of politicians in the world. When caught in the act, they become defensive and started attacking others. They lack not only integrity, they exhibit behaviours of a compulsive liar forgetting the decorum expected of their esteemed positions.
continue reading here :
Minister Chan Chun Sing: PA does the work of PAP
March 11, 2018
When questioned if the S$1 billion tax-funded government agency People’s Association (PA) is politicised, Minister of State Chan Chun Sing unwittingly admitted that the PA does the political work of the ruling party government:
“In executing their duties, all government statutory boards are serving to fulfill the functions of the elected government of the day. As a statutory board, the PA’s mission is to promote social cohesion and racial harmony, as well as to connect people with the government. Through its community bonding programmes, PA also explains and gathers feedback on government policies to ensure a responsive and responsible government. For instance, grassroots advisors, who are appointed by the government, have a role in explaining difficult and sometimes unpopular policies that are necessary to the future of Singapore, such as the impending goods and services tax hike and foreign manpower policies. When the government appoints people to help it outreach, sense the ground, respond to the ground… These are all part and parcel of government function.”
The Opposition Workers’ Party then questioned the Minister why is the grassroots advisor in the Opposition wards always a PAP branch chairman or prospective election candidate from PAP. WP MP Muhamad Faisal Manap pointed out that there is conflict of interests and element of politicising:
“Isn’t there a conflict of interest or element of politicising in a situation where a grassroots advisor, who is also a political party branch chairman, invites residents to go for his unofficial Meet-the-People session at the branch office? Letters written on behalf of residents in such instances bear the name of the political party on the letterhead.”
Minister Chan Chun Sing then deflected the question saying residents are free to approach anyone to write letters addressing government agencies:
“If residents do not want to see their MP in an Opposition ward as their first resort, they are at liberty to choose to visit the PAP branch and get the letter signed by the PAP branch chairman, even though it is not their elected MP. When agencies receive the letter, they will know who is the MP that represents the resident… And they will give the matter due consideration.”
WP MP Pritam Singh then questioned the Minister why are the Community Development Centres, a government statutory board, not working with the Opposition Aljunied Town Council. Minister Chan Chun Sing feigned ignorance and told the MP to approach the CDC instead.
continue reading here :
Did NTUC float “test balloons” on GST hike with survey in Nov 2017
Published on 2018-03-11 by The Online Citizen
According to a whistleblower, Singapore’s main labour union, National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) conducted a short survey on tax matter with more than 300 of its union leaders in late November 2017 and received close to 440 response.
The Online Citizen wrote to NTUC on Thursday to ascertain whether the labour union conducted the survey, however, no reply has been received till today. What TOC did not include in the email is that we were also given the results of the survey which is allegedly conducted by NTUC.
The results were released to the survey participants in the first week of December 2017.
The questions were asked and their answers are as follow:
Answer:
•Betting taxes
•Corporate Income Tax
•Asset Taxes
•Statutory Boards’ Contributions
•Customs and Excise Tax
Top three results:
•38.4% chose “between 2021 and 2025”
•15.9% chose “between 2018 and 2020”
•12.4% chose “between 2046 and 2050”
•No. 73.8%
•Yes. 9.9%
•Maybe 16.3%
•51.2% - 1% is acceptable
•27.9% - 2% is acceptable
•14.0% - 3% is acceptable
•More rebates
•Increase salaries
•GST vouchers
•Reimburse in other forms
•Tax the rich
•Reduce expenditure
•Cut salary of high rank govt officers/ministers
•Raise vice taxes
•Review spending and spend within means
What is interesting about the survey is that majority of the leaders surveyed in this poll choose to have taxes to be increased between 2021 and 2025. The same timeframe which the government has announced for the impending GST hike of 9%
The current Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) is Minister in the Prime Minister Office, Chan Chun Sing. One of the three potential Prime Minister candidate highlighted by the mainstream media.
continue reading here :
The government is trying to hijack the GST hike debate
March 12, 2018
By Augustine Low
Create distraction and divert attention. Attack Sylvia Lim for speaking up and then demand an apology. Praise Low Thia Khiang for speaking up like a PAP MP.
Then Ministers take turns with their talking points which will be repeated ad nauseam, turning a deaf ear to the key issues at hand and the key points raised. It’s how the government intends to stick to its narrative and hijack the GST hike debate.
The government’s talking points were very much summed up by PM Lee Hsien Loong over the weekend: it has decided against tapping its reserves as they are Singapore’s “precious nest egg.” Once the reserves are depleted, there will be no money left “when the rain comes.”
But nobody is asking the government to use the reserves willy-nilly till depletion. That would be reckless and foolhardy. Are Singaporeans so thoughtless and self-centred?
What are the key issues the government has sidestepped? They were raised in a brilliant Budget Speech by Nominated Member of Parliament Kuik Shiao-yin.
Let’s recap three of the most cogent points from her speech which the government has not addressed and instead has resorted to distractions and diversions.
Kuik pointed out that the International Monetary Fund has said that Singapore is being “excessively prudent” in amassing so much reserves. A country with Singapore’s GDP could make do with $113 billion in reserves, enough for rainy days and to ward off currency attacks. But latest figures show Singapore is holding $369 billion in reserves, more than three times of that recommended by IMF. (There are those who estimate the reserves to be about $1 trillion!). Is the IMF therefore wrong with its assessment? Why does Singapore feel the need to go against IMF guidelines?
Kuik also asked a most reasonable question that the government has chosen to ignore: if $369 billion is still not enough, HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH THEN? “Otherwise it can seem like this story is just about growth of reserves for growth’s sake,” she said.
continue reading here :
WP MP Pritam Singh makes an appearance as god of prosperity at Aljunied GRC CNY dinner
March 12, 2018
Workers’ Party assistant secretary-general Pritam Singh made a grand entry as god of prosperity, Cai Shen Ye, at the Aljunied GRC Lunar New Year Dinner Celebration over the weekend.
The celebration, which was held near 153 Serangoon North Ave 1 on Saturday (10 Mar), saw constituents lap up Singh’s jolly performance as he threw chocolate gold coins in the air:
This is not the first time that Aljunied GRC MPs have immersed themselves in celebrating Singapore’s holidays with their constituents.
continue reading here :
http://www.theindependent.sg/wp-mp-p...rc-cny-dinner/
Well done WP .
Will citizens not rock the boat and choose the absolute power and discretion of the PAP Government?
March 12, 2018
By: James Aruldoss
We have a greedy and insecure Government that hoards, amasses wealth for its own good, with a deluded and deceptive syndrome (like a bee in your bonnet) that “there is never enough”, backing reasons like “country with no natural resources” and citing policies “to benefit the poor and marginalised”.
Really! We have gone past that years ago!
As long as we have our uncles and aunties cleaning toilets, floors and tables in the food centres when they should be enjoying the twilight years, and the complete contrast of high ministerial/public servants salaries, how do you account for that or even justify it? Where is the improved livelihood?
Clearly, it’s a testament of how the Government is treating their citizens.
What do you think captures the young Singaporeans when they see old folks doing what they do instead of enjoying the benefits of the land? What enters their mind? A deep sense of insecurity subconsciously permeating and welling up within, in the psyche that indelibly produces a crippling effect of not wanting to get married, to have babies or to work endlessly to the grave, if not already so … thoughts of not having enough to fend for themselves, the fate of ending up like the uncles and aunties and the word “retired” turning into an ugly word.
What’s the point of boasting a strong dollar or a strong passport or an incredible airport and all the glitz of a cosmopolitan 1st world city at the costly price and state of its citizens.
continue reading here :
http://www.theindependent.sg/will-ci...ap-government/
I wonder if the 70% will wake up or not ?
Dr Tan Cheng Bock: K Shanmugam is ungracious and arrogant
March 12, 2018
Sharing a video of WP MP Sylvia Lim, former PAP leader Dr Tan Cheng Bock said that the opposition MP was simply echoing the principles of Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. Quoting the former PM, Dr Tan Cheng Bock wrote:
“All MPs new and old, should speak out. You have to speak up and bring out the grapevine criticism in the coffee shops and hawker centres. It is damaging for the government not to openly refute it with facts and argument. By bringing up apparently embarrassing issues, you help the government openly state the facts and explain the reasons for our policies and so continue to hold the ground.”
Singling out Law Minister K Shanmugam for intimidation, Dr Tan Cheng Bock added that the young Ministers should appreciate MP Sylvia Lim’s question as it gives them an opportunity to explain. The former PAP leader called for the Ministers to be gracious and not over-react:
“Having watched the video on the GST debate, I felt the PAP ministers especially Shanmugam were brow beating MP Sylvia Lim by demanding an apology for asking whether the government postponed the GST hike because of negative public feedback. Many people perceive this brow beating as arrogance. I remember our former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew once told all PAP MPs in 1988 “Any show of arrogance or indifference by any MP or Minister will erode confidence in him and, later, in the government.” Instead of getting upset, the Ministers should be thankful Sylvia Lim gave them an opportunity to explain. If the government’s position is ‘no’ then just say no and let’s just stop at that. No need to get defensive… So be gracious, no need to over-react or ask for any apology for bringing out “grapevine criticism” or “apparently embarrassing issues” in Parliament.”
continue reading here :
PM Lee Hsien Loong campaigns in Opposition Aljunied GRC
March 13, 2018
Bringing the former PAP candidate of Aljunied GRC Victor Lye around, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong went on a walkabout in the opposition constituency on Sunday (Mar 11). PAP supporters in the GRC turned up by the hundreds and welcomed the dictator Prime Minister with VIP treatment including dance performances and a cooking event.
Speaking to Chinese media reporters, the PM campaigned for the PAP candidates:
“I hope the residents can support them so they could continue contributing to Aljunied GRC.”
The opposition Workers’ Party narrowly won Aljunied GRC in the most recent 2015 General Elections with only 50.95% of the votes.
The opposition-held Aljunied Town Council have been facing accounting issues after the ruling party deliberately trip it up by refusing to release government grants. After the ruling party lodged a number of lawsuits over the 7 years and eventually lost in the High Court, the Workers’ Party cleared the accounts auditing by an independent auditor in Feb this year.
continue reading here :
http://statestimesreview.com/2018/03...-aljunied-grc/
So early start campaining . So what if Aljunied residents again reject the PAP team should the PM resign ?